Disclaimer: the posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, of the Scottish National Party, said that:

1. Norway, had been able to come up with a £35 billion rescue package for its banks.

2. Norway was protected by a £200 billion sovereign oil fund.

3. "By contrast with the UK, Norway is a sea of stability. This crisis has taken place within existing UK constitutional arrangements. It is just fanciful and self-serving nonsense for anyone to pretend that large countries haven't been affected by this."

There is a suspicion that the two Scottish banks, HBOS and RBS, were brought down as part of a conspiracy to weaken Scotland.

On 17 september 2008, the Financial Services Authority declared that HBOS was still "a well-capitalised bank that continues to fund its business in a satisfactory way." (HBOS: The questions that must be answered)

The Scotsman newspaper, 19 September 2008, asks the following:

1. Why was action not taken earlier to prevent short sellers hijacking a sound financial institution?

2. Why was the Financial Services Authority so ineffectual as the crisis unfolded?

The Scotsman points out that the Bank of England could have offered financial assistance while weaker parts of the business were sold off.